Almost two dozen children have been referred for investigation as potential terrorist suspects

The statistics come after thousands of teachers, lecturers and local government workers were trained to spot the signs of radicalisation under the UK government's "Prevent" strategy.

New figures show that, since 2015, a total of 131 people were referred to authorities in Scotland, of whom 23 were under the age of 14. Four were students, tipped for investigation by university staff, while 16 were directly reported by teachers.

Police say the programme has stopped people travelling to the Middle East to take part in "jihad".

The force's head of "Prevent" strategy, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Black, said: "There are many good stories about those individuals whom we have stopped travelling to Syria and putting themselves at risk."

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Since 2015 a total of 131 people have been referred to authorities in Scotland

However, teaching unions have dismissed the findings.

There are many good stories about those individuals whom we have stopped travelling to Syria

The General Secretary of the EIS, Larry Flanagan, said: "Scots councils have, by and large, not bought into the anti-Islam narrative that pervades Prevent in England.

"Teenagers have questions and they are not going to be able to discuss these questions in a supportive environment at school for fear of being reported. That closes down space for discussion – and that means there's a greater danger of radicalisation.